Nikon patent suggests password-based security system for lenses

Nikon has filed a patent covering the idea of a password-based security system for lenses. The patent lists the high value of lenses as a reason for the innovation - the camera would refuse to shoot with a lens unless the correct password was entered. This is an attempt by the the company to prevent resale of stolen gear.

Nikon Rumors has extracted this (Google translated) passage from the patent:

'Conventionally, the imaging device provided with the security function is known. In such an imaging device, the technology which makes photography impossible until the password set up previously is entered, in order to prevent a theft and a mischief'.

Another line in the patent is intriguing, where Nikon states: 'provided that impossible for imaging the light shielding unit, blocking the light beam'. It's difficult to glean exactly what this might signify, but it seems to hint at a physical modification to lenses, as well as a software fix.

Nikon's patent suggests passcode protection for lens-body combination, possibly involving a physical means of blocking the light path from a stolen lens, making it impossible to use.

Putting aside complications regarding the buying and selling of used equipment, this is an interesting idea, and one that in principle makes sense - you register your lenses with your camera, and if someone steals your gear, they can't use it. What do you think?

Actually, it doesn't work with a password but with iris detection. Also, once your iris is linked to a lens, it will be forever and you won't be able to resell it. This will of course only be available for the most high-end lenses. It is to prevent theft.

Would be interesting to hear the stats regarding the ratio of photographers who have lost gear to those who haven't - if there are any. If it's very low which I suspect it will be then we must question whether it is a ruse to shut Tamron, Sigma, Tokina et all out of the market:very silly and likely to come back and bite them on the foot.

As mentioned earlier, unless awareness is raised significantly so thieves realise pinching a Nikon lens is pointless, the outcome will still be the same for the photographer who won't give a monkey's whether the bloke who pinched it can use it or not. Will it change the cost of insuring Nikon gear I wonder? Yeah right...

Another password to remember, adding to a long list of passwords that people need to remember. If frustrated users set all their password to 123456. It would end up defeating the purpose of having a password. This idea is not really good.

I truly believe that some bright young MBA at Nikon came up with this scheme and sold it to management by touting it's "virtue" of making reselling of lenses just a bit harder. I have bought lenses on eBay and can just imagine the seller giving you the wrong code so you have another thing to complain to eBay about. What happens to guys like me who own half a dozen lenses? This has got to be a boondoggle.

Breathtakingly ridiculous! I cannot imagine who came up with that one. Maybe Nikon lost all of its photographers (kind of like Microsoft seems to have lost its core programmers). You, know, people who actually use the product. I can just see trying to login as I pull my camera up for a "fast" shot.

We used to call the old "ever-ready" camera cases "never-ready" cases because it always took so long to drop the front and open the camera. Password input would be far worse or any kind of biometric ID device (gloves in winter, bloodshot eyes, different hold or tripod mounted, etc.).

If a password-protected device is stolen it is more likely to land in some dumpster out of frustration on the part of the thief instead of finding its way back to me.

More cynically, maybe this is just a way to control your hardware so that is it never really yours. Not so far from the recent trends to rent you a license for software (i.e. cs6) at roughly 5.5 times what it usually costs me to upgrade.

The thief will only get less money when he sells it, then the fence hacks the lens and bypasses the password protection thus increasing his profit considerably, since he paid the thief less and there are less lenses on the (black) market because not anybody knows how to bypass the limitations.Thief: -1Fence: +2Buyer of stolen goods: -1User: =</tongue in cheek>

What is more likely is a scheme to prevent the resale or used sales of lenses. Or a subscription system to bring in additional revenue after the sale of a lens (in exchange for continued use). At the end of the day, companies really only care about the 'bottom line' or another way to make money.

Yeah, my thought too. It is such a ridiculous obstacle to shooting, especially quickly, that if there is any rationality to it, it must be some scheme to keep any of us from any sort of real ownership of our own equipment. Officially-created theft, so to speak.

I was going to make a joke about internet-subscription and connection authorized clothing but maybe not. Can you imagine buying clothing and having the authorization lose the WiFi connection in the middle of a big party? Silly example, I know, but think again. We are already doing that with "the cloud" and with CS6 subscriptions, etc. It all becomes us then to become a serf class, looking for permission to the owners. Sooner or later, pay-per-breath! Coming to the feudal castle near you.

Nikon does not say the password would be mandatory. Anyone who do not want to use it may probably skip it. But for those who might feel this would give them advantage, password option could come handy. It's little like with cellphones. Most of people do not even bother with protecting its content against being used fraudulently. But they should. Not because their phones get stolen often but lots of user just loose it. The validity of patenting password protection for lenses is another story. US patent law execution is just ridiculous. IT allows you to patent "wheel" again if it used for specific purpose or application. But that is just system gap that have been created to feed greedy patent seeking business entities, not true inventors.

I have a password on my cell phone that I use to protect the information on it. I have no illusions that someone stealing the hardware can crack it, but I assume they will have to wipe the phone to do so (deleting all the info). This keeping my information private. It does nothing to keep someone from stealing my phone.

There is too many work-around ways for passwords I love my Nikons body's & lenses I will not purchase new equipment with passwords and guess I will not be updating firmware I like the idea sr numbers be made required on used equipment selling sitesThan diligent equipment owners record all sr numbers and forward to Nikon as stollen gear Please Nikon don't make me remember more passwords for something most people love to do shoot photos Jeff

There are rare occasions of the stuff being found. Thieves are also different. Some of them may not damage it. Anyway, if I don't get my lens back, I'd prefer it rather being damaged than to support a thief.

In twenty-plus years of shooting, I've only suffered theft once–and it was by far because of my own carelessness. I don't need (or want) Nikon or Canon or any other manufacturer to protect me from myself or any potential miscreants because, honestly, what are the chances that the thief will know (or care) that all my gear is "registered" and, therefore, unusable to anyone but him. Likely by the time that happens, it's already been stolen (and maybe I've been assaulted in the process). So, other than the inconvenience of yet another password to remember (and/or forget), what *really* does this gain me?

And let's be honest–what electronic security systems can't be defeated by a knowledgeable and motivated enough person?

Yet another reason to stay away from further investment in Nikon gear.

I wonder how they're going to force this upon people who use adapters on other brands of cameras. Oh, they're going to wipe out that market...? I can see people never buying another Nikon lens after the first time this happens.

Probably not. After three wrong passwords entered, or if the camera senses software being tampered with, the blades spring out and slice the thieving fingers off. And the next model will probably detonate the lens mount bolts... :-)

What a silly idea, trust Nikon to 'sign in' to this. Now if Nikon were really on the ball, they would push forward with their wi-fi enabled systems, add a chip / link in the new lenses so that an owner could check online where a camera and lens combination was being used at any time and in any location. Would make more sense?

1. If the lens is stolen along with the body, it will work fine. (as I doubt that a camera that forces you to enter a password each time you start it up would even sell).

2. I trust the stolen goods market will figure out the workaround to reset it (just as you can on computers by pulling the RTC battery or setting a DIP switch on the motherboard if you forget the setup or startup password).

3. it will either increase the cost of already expensive Nikon lenses, or reduce Nikon's profit margins should they not increase their prices.

For these reasons, I feel that it's pertinence and viability are in question.

not sure about this, but I wished ebay would make everybody that sell used gear to show the serial number, I know some sellers do. Also people can look up stolen camera gears on nikon site and compare. Craigslist forget about being honest there.

I think the folks at Nikon simply do not understand the mindset of thieves. They could post a warning in twelve different languages on the camera or lens that that particular unit has theft-deterrent features, but that wouldn't stop a thief who doesn't know how to read or is incredibly smart at finding a hack to circumvent the security password/features.

Wasn't Nikon suing Sigma recently for some sort of patent infringement? As others have suggested, this could be a way for Nikon to lock third-party manufacturers quite literally OFF their lens mount.

My life is overwhelmed with passwords. One reason I pick up a camera is to escape the tedious of passwords and security questions. I'd rather see Nikon come up with a compelling mirrorless system than give us this boondoggle.

this idea is useless, what for? password for lens? so you cant share lenses? or you want to get hold of the brand nikon, maybe afraid of some third party lens company to soon have their own brand of camera, just like nikon did.

you should add another slogan like "We make simple things - Stupidly Difficult + complicated - that's how we understand innovation"

the only reason for this is big brother trying to watch you.But imagine what would happen if we all say NO to that, and leave it in the stores. Think about it, no one can do anything to you that you don't want.

and 3 days later, you find a hack for this on every torrent engine or specialized sites. Nikon sucksssssss.It reminds me the scam with DVD protection in zones, or Epson and HP system to sell ink cartidges in other parts of the world with different coding, so you can not use them on your printer.

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